Mr. Pell was an internationalist and progressive among a class of economic conservatives and geopolitical isolationists. He was the leading American seeking to build awareness of and prevent the Holocaust—and prosecute those responsible—as the principal U.S. sponsor and member of the United Nations War Crimes Commission. Mr. Pell had extensive first-hand experience in international affairs, having lived many years in Europe. He also served on the advisory committee of Yenching University, later merged with Peking University.

Member of House of Representatives from New York, 1919-21. Delegate to Democratic National Convention, 1924. Frequent lecturer at Columbia & Harvard. Minister to Portugal, 1937-41. Minister to Hungary, Feb-Dec 1941 (when Hungary declared war against the United States). Principal U.S. sponsor and member of the United Nations War Crimes Commission, 1943-45.